Today marks the seventy-first day since Rhys and I broke up, and I'm about to lose five thousand dollars. That bastard Rhys actually raised the price, and I'm determined to be at odds with him.
I sat on the sofa with the five-thousand-dollars bank card, feeling like my heart was being sliced open. Just as I was trying to mentally prepare myself, my phone rang—it was a message from Malachi.
It was a long message, and I could hardly believe that someone as quiet and reserved as him could write such a long, emotional piece.
Just as I finished reading, I heard Rhys's gloomy voice behind me: "You've already found someone new?"
Instinctively, I turned off my phone and played along with his words: "Of course! And he only charges one thousand dollars! Much cheaper than you!"
He seemed furious: "Paige, you..." He paused, then added sarcastically, "I never realized you were so obsessed with pretty boys..."
Obsessed with pretty boys?
Before I could retort, he spoke again, this time with a touch of arrogance: "In that case, I'll settle for just five hundred dollars."
Me:...?
That's great!
"Tell me, when? I'll get ready."
"Ready? No need to prepare, let's do it right now!" I said decisively.
He looked surprised: "I really didn't expect you to change so much."
Without hesitation, I turned around, knelt on the sofa, and was about to lift his shirt, but he suddenly pulled me into an embrace. I was stunned for a moment, and after struggling for a while, I finally pushed him away. "Rhys, what are you doing?"
He frowned, his voice tinged with displeasure: "What do you think I'm doing?"
I paused for half a second before quickly saying, "I'm paying five hundred yuan to look at your muscle lines for my drawing, my illustration. What kind of nonsense is in your head?"
There was a three-second silence in the air before Rhys, instead of backing off, grabbed my chin aggressively and hissed in my ear, "Are you messing with me?"
"It's your own twisted thinking!!!"
"You didn't make yourself clear!"
"It's your mind that's unhealthy!"
After a long standoff, he took a deep breath, let go of me with a fierce look, and turned to go to the bathroom.
Despite all the bumps along the way, I still managed to get pictures of Rhys's muscles, and it only cost me five hundred dollars.
However, Rhys's mood has been terrible lately. He's been sniping at everyone and everything, with a sarcastic tone at the slightest provocation.
I'm in a good mood and don't want to argue with him. I've submitted my work and am about to receive another payment.
It was then that I remembered I hadn't replied to Malachi's message, and several days had already passed. Ah, right, what was the last thing he said again?
I pulled out my phone and opened WeChat.
He asked when I would have time to have a meal together, saying he could adjust to my schedule.
I thought about it and realized I was free anytime now, so I replied, "I'm free anytime."
Two hours later, I received his reply with the time and location.
I turned off my phone, feeling quite good, and turned on the TV. Suddenly, I heard a "bang."
Rhys had smashed a vase.
